Forensic anthropology is a sub-specialty of physical anthropology, and is concerned with the application of expert knowledge about skeletal anatomy to issues of forensic importance, including the identification of the deceased (where the remains are completely, or partially, skeletonised), and the identification and interpretation of bone trauma.

Principles derived from studying skeletal anatomy of archeological specimens and 'collections' of skeletons are applied to the examination of bones found in a forensic context (e.g. clandestine burial), with a view to providing information relevant to the identification of the deceased, including estimations of;

Forensic anthropologists can play an integral role in death investigations, and can assist in the identification of remains at the scene, recovery of those remains (utilising archeological principles), and examination in the mortuary, alongside the forensic pathologist.